"Jerks" or just "jaded?"
AE's are some of the most jaded people I know until you get to know them. But usually, it's not really their fault - It's a defense mechanism.
I've dealt with more crap from more "divas" and otherwise "professional" people in this industry that I'm surprised I stay in it. Certainly one of the main reasons that you don't find me tracking and mixing much anymore. I'm tired of dealing with all the BS and baggage that goes along with it.
And you never know -- Some people are as nice as pie. Others are as nasty as a lion with a thorn in its foot. And that's probably a defense mechanism also.
I was working with a group a couple years ago -- Five days after their fourth Grammy - in a row. I thought they were going to be the cockiest, nastiest, "who gives a rat's a$$ about the little guy" bunch in the world. They were anything but. Humble, gracious, pleasant, kind, while maintaining an obviously professional approach. I happily bent over backwards to keep them happy.
Then you get the other side... The guys who feel as if you're not supposed to be walking on the rose petals coming out of their [SELF-CENSORED]. I specifically recall picking up a group from their hotel - after waiting for them for over an hour after the scheduled pickup time - They were from NY (I'm in Chicago) and the "main dude" started playing around with the radio. Hey, that's fine -- I have no problem with that. But in the interest of being helpful and a gracious host, I said "I'm pretty familiar with the stations around here -- Anything in particular you're looking for?"
Dead silence - The whole rest of the group looked around at each other and at "the leader" -- I could see them thinking
"Did *he* just *talk* to *the man*?!? Where does this guy think he's coming from just talking to the man like that?!?"
At least, it sure felt that way. But not one to rush to judgement, I let it slide and tried something similar several minutes later by adding a comment to their otherwise lively conversation...
Same thing. They actually seemed utterly shocked that I would speak when not addressed.
These jerks, who kept me waiting outside for an hour (which was only the *first* breech of their contract that evening) evidently thought it completely inappropriate that I was a person.
And I gotta tell 'ya... I was completely unprepared for that. The guy was blues/jazz royalty. I've dealt with blues/jazz "legends" all the time and found them to almost always be fantastic to work with. Gene Harris, Art Farmer, most of Muddy's former bandmates -- It's like your instant "old buddies" -- But not this guy... Unfortunately, he wasn't the last...
But I had to swallow that and spin knobs and move faders all night for the jerk. All I was all night was nice to them. All they were all night were too big for their britches.
I'm sorry -- Am I starting to sound jaded?